'I think it's time': Saskatoon's other farmers market group circling downtown Market Square

Earlier this week, the 44-year-old Saskatoon Farmers' Market Co-operative touted itself as the city's irreplaceable provider of homegrown food and locally made products.

But in the wake of the increasingly messy and public rift between the co-op and the City of Saskatoon, another farmers market in town says it's interested in taking over part of the co-op's long-held downtown turf.

"I think it's time that the Community Farmers Market has stepped up," said Christopher Dunlop, the president of the Community Farmers Market of Saskatoon (CFM).

Dunlop said his group is interested in operating the outdoor market at Market Square which adjoins the 19th Street W building at River Landing in time for the spring of 2020. The co-op's lease with the city ends at the end of 2019.

• City addresses 'very concerning' allegations from same farmers market group seeking exclusive deal with city

The city is expected shortly to issue a call for proposals for populating the popular River Landing building home to the co-op's market for the last 12 yearswith an array of attractions besides a farmers market throughout the week.

The city wants proposals to include a farmersmarket for at least two days a week.

Several groups have already expressed interest, according to the city.

Grocery store, restaurant envisioned

City councillors expressed concern Monday that there might not be a market in place at Market Square once roof repairs at the River Landing building are completed in early 2020.

The city said it intends to have a group in place in the square for the spring.

"We are definitely interested," Dunlop said of his group of twelve or so vendors, which launched in 2007 and currently holds pop-up markets along 51st Street and 8th Street on days when the co-op does not operateits market.

The Community Farmers Market would submit a proposal "should we have the right framework to make it a financial success," Dunlop said.

The CFMis even interested in operating inside the River Landing building during the winter.

"But our involvement would be in a limited capacity, only occupying one quarter of the inside space while making the Market Square a bountiful display of local farmers and their products from June to Halloween," Dunlop said.

CFM's partners would invest in the rest of the building, Dunlopadded.

"I would envision that to be a grocery store filled with local fareas much as possible, along with a butcher shop, deli, restaurant, as well as a space that is able to do large catering events, such as weddings, special events, etc."

Erika Quiring, the executive director of the Saskatoon Farmers' Market Co-operative, saidthe River Landing building is "not very big."

"It's a 13,000-square-foot space for a grocery store, a restaurant and an authentic farmers' market to operate," she toldSaskatoon Morning show host Jennifer Quesnelon Wednesday.

The co-op has previously said it would not bid on a new RFP. On Monday, the group told city council it might.

Asked again Wednesday, Quiring said the co-op would like to work collaboratively with the city and that the co-op is willing to partner with the Community Farmers Market of Saskatoon.

A partner in mind

Dunlop mentioned a different potential partner: Dale MacKay.

The first Top Chef Canada winner, MacKay co-owns Grassroots Restaurant Group, which runs Saskatoon's Ayden Kitchen and Sticks and Stones.

MacKay's group bid on a previous request for proposals that was ultimately cancelled in light of the needed roof repairs at the River Landing building.

"We would love to work with Grassroots Restaurant Group and additional partners in making the space a vibrant success for all local businesses," Dunlop said. "We have a wonderful relationship with the Grassroots Restaurant Group and have partnered with them in the past."

Reached on Tuesday via text, MacKay declined to comment.

'A huge life decision'

Dunlop's comments come after the Saskatoon Farmers Market Co-operative made its case to city council on Monday for why the city should directly negotiate a contract with the co-op for long-term tenancy at River Landing.

"We are the only entity in the city that is capable of operating an authentic farmer's market," said the co-op's president and board chair, Adithya Ramachandran.

"The public does not just want [any] farmers market, even an authentic one. They want one operated by SFM This cannot be replaced and this has to be respected by the city."

Erkia Quiring, the co-op's executive director, expressed concern about the co-op's vendors breaking away from co-op in favour of joining a new operator at the River Landing site.

Dunlop said the CFM would not seek to "convert" any co-op members, but merely "advertise that we needed more vendors to occupy the space."

• 'We are being evicted': Saskatoon Farmers' Market in talks to move to suburb

• Saskatoon Farmers' Market scouting 'all across' town for new home as impasse with city continues

CFM member Chelsea Erlandson, the co-owner of the Spring Creek Garden produce stand, is also a member of the co-op, selling her wares at Market Square on weekends.

For the last 12 months, Erlandson has been pondering what she would do in the event another group took over River Landing from the co-op.

"It's a huge life decision," she said Tuesday during a CFM popup on 8th Street.

"We don't want to leave the River Landing location. But we also don't want to have a competing second market against the Saskatoon Farmers' Market."

Erlandson said the pop-ups and the weekend sales at Market Square attract different clienteles.

"We have a lot more elderly people coming here because they can park close," she said. "Downtown, it's a younger market. It's more of a destination. It's something to do with the family rather than 'I just need a few vegetables for baking or something for supper tonight.'"

Dunlop said that should the CFM take over at Market Square, the popups on 8th and 51st will continue too.

"I sort of like the term pop-up for this if we were granted the Market Square space downtown. I like to think the CFM meets the great citizens of Saskatoon halfway."

Dunlop said that with some exceptions, all members of the Community Farmers Market of Saskatoon are from the Saskatoon area.

"We do have a rule that all memberships are to be restricted to a 200-kilometre radius of the city centre of Saskatoon," he said.